Shades Reunion No. 2

8 April 2006 : John Bobin, for BtP

Southend musician John Bobin (hear him here) reports:

On 8 April 2006 yet another Shades reunion was held. The venue was the Ekco Sports and Social club in Southend on Sea, the atmosphere was friendly and the punters were, shall we say, ‘mature.’

In spite of the advanced age of most of the people at the celebration they jived happily to the sounds of Hunt Runt Shunt and Cunningham, the Rock and Roll outfit lead by ex-Rockafella, Tony Sumner (the well known Ubangi Stomper.)

The line up for the evening included two drummers, Mickey Brownlee (ex-Paramount) and Bob Clouter (ex-Legend.) The other members of the band for the night were Denis Masterton (ex-Alvin Jones) on guitar and myself, John Bobin on bass.

James Sumner (Tony’s son and a fine performer in his own right) also did a set during which his drummer from Ocean’s 7 also took the stand. DJ for the night was Ken Todd (who was the original singer in Sounds Around in the sixties.)

There was a great spirit of camaraderie and the event proved two things: 

• We could show those youngsters a thing or two!
• There is nothing like old friends…

Will there be more Shades-related events? Who knows… but if we leave it another forty years we will be Rocking at Heaven’s Door!! 

Thanks, John